JP2000081694A - Heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniformly heat sheet material by effectively utilizing the heat generated from a heating means. SOLUTION: Photosensitive material 16 and image receiving paper 40 are stuck to each other and wound around the winding ring 48 of a heat developing part. The ring 48 is constituted by a fixed ring 48A and a movable ring 48B, and the ring 48B is moved according to the width dimension of the material 16 and the paper 40, and only the both ends of the material 16 and the paper 40 in a width direction are wound around the rings 48A and 48B, so that the material 16 and the upper 40 are curved in nearly circular arc shape. Thereafter, the material 16 and the paper 40 are directly heated by the heat generated from the heater 50, whereby then are processed to be heat-developed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat developing device, and more particularly to a heat developing device for forming an image by heating a sheet material carrying image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Lith films (photosensitive materials) have conventionally been used for printing newspapers and magazines. The photosensitive material such as the squirrel film can form an image by performing each processing (wet processing) such as development and fixing, like the photographic film. However, when each processing such as development and fixing is performed by wet processing, the process in the development processing is complicated. In addition, since each processing is performed by sequentially immersing the squirrel film in a processing tank in which a processing liquid (a developing liquid and a fixing liquid, etc.) is stored, the management is troublesome, and the processing device is stained. This causes a problem that the deterioration of the processing apparatus itself is accelerated.

On the other hand, there has been proposed a thermal developing apparatus capable of performing a developing process on a photosensitive material such as a lith film without performing complicated processes such as development and fixing (wet process). This thermal developing device is, for example, by bonding a photosensitive material having an image exposed thereto and an image receiving material, heating the image for a predetermined time, and thereafter separating and drying the photosensitive material and the image receiving material (performing a so-called dry process). Some perform development processing.

[0004] As shown in FIG.
A photosensitive material (hereinafter, referred to as a film) F, the image of which is exposed by an exposure device 102 disposed adjacently, is inserted from an insertion port 104 and is transported by a plurality of transport rollers 106. A water application section 108 and a thermal development section 110 are provided along the transport direction of the photosensitive material 126, and the water application section 108 applies water to the photosensitive material 126. Thereby, the adhesion between the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet (corresponding to the above-described image receiving material) 112 can be improved. A heating drum 114 is provided in the thermal developing unit 110. Inside the heating drum 114, a heater 11 is provided.
6, the rotating heating drum 114 is heated by the heater 116, and the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 conveyed along the outer periphery of the heating drum 114.
Is heated for a predetermined time (that is, heat development is performed).
At this time, the laminated photosensitive material 126 and processing sheet 1
12 is conveyed while being pressed against the heating drum 114 by the pressure belt 122. After the completion of the heat development processing, the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 are peeled off and a plurality of fans 1
Dry with 18.

As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of hot plates 120A are provided to limit the height of the heat developing device 100A.
To 120E may be arranged in an arc shape to form the thermal developing unit 110A. The heating plates 120A to 120E have built-in flat heaters and temperature sensors (not shown),
The hot plates 120A to 120E are heated so as to have a temperature suitable for the heat development processing. In other words, the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 bonded together are conveyed along the arcs of the hot plates 120A to 120E via the belt 124, so that the heat development processing is performed.

[0006] Therefore, since a liquid containing a chemical such as a processing liquid is not used, the maintenance and replenishment of the liquid and the cleaning of the apparatus are not bothered, and the maintainability of the apparatus can be improved.

However, the thermal developing device 100 shown in FIG.
Then, the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 are transported along the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 114 installed in the thermal developing unit 110, and the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 are conveyed by the pressure belt 122 to the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 114. And heat-developed. Also,
In the thermal developing device 100A shown in FIG.
The photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 are conveyed along the arcs of the hot plates 120A to 120E through the heat-treatment plates to perform a heat development process. That is, the belt 124 around which the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 which are bonded together is wound around the heating drum 114 or the heating plates 120A to 120E.
Is subjected to a heat development process while being brought into contact with or pressure-bonded.

Accordingly, the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 11
2 needs to be provided with a mechanism for contacting or pressing the heating drum 114 or the belt 124 wound around the heating plates 120A to 120E, and the internal configuration of the heat developing device becomes complicated. is there.

Further, a thermal developing apparatus 100 shown in FIG.
In the example, the heater 116 is built in the heating drum 114, and the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 are heated via the heating drum 114. FIG.
In the thermal developing device 100A shown in FIG.
20E has a built-in flat heater,
The photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 are heated via a belt 124 wound around the heating plates 120A to 120E and the heating plates 120A to 120E. Thus, in the conventional heat developing apparatuses 100 and 100A, the photosensitive material 126
And the processing sheet 112 are indirectly heated, it is necessary to heat not only the photosensitive material 126 and the processing sheet 112 but also the heating drum and the heating plates 120A to 20E. And hot plate 120
It is necessary to incorporate a large-capacity heater in A to 120E. As a result, there is a problem that the cost required for configuring the thermal developing device increases.

The heating drum 114 and the heating plate 120A
~ 120E is gradually cooled. Therefore, the photosensitive material 1
In the case where the thermal development process is continuously performed on the substrate 26, the temperatures of the heating drum 114 and the heating plates 120A to 120E are not stable, and it is difficult to adjust the temperature to a temperature suitable for the thermal development process. is there. Furthermore, unevenness in development occurs due to the shapes of the heating drum 114 and the heating plates 120A to 120E,
There is a problem that an image cannot be formed accurately.

On the other hand, the heating drum 114 and the hot plate 1
There is a method in which a heater is arranged so as to face a photosensitive material conveyed in a straight line without using 20A to 120E, and the photosensitive material is heated while the photosensitive material and the heater are relatively moved.

However, in this method, it takes time to heat the photosensitive material. When the heater is moved,
When the heater is cooled by the flow of air generated around the heater, the heating temperature of the photosensitive material becomes unstable, and a failure such as disconnection of a filament or the like inside the heater easily occurs. Further, a mechanism for moving the heater is required, which causes a problem that the inside of the apparatus becomes complicated or large.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a heat treatment such as a heat development treatment is performed on a sheet material by effectively utilizing heat generated from a heating means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating device for performing the heating.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a heating apparatus for forming an image by heating a sheet-like material having a predetermined width and carrying image information. A winding means that is arranged in a pair at positions corresponding to both ends in the width direction of the sheet and is curved so as to be wound in an arc shape with the inner peripheral surface opened by contacting the sheet-shaped material so as to be wound; Heating means disposed at the axis of the sheet-like material curved in an arc shape along the width direction of the sheet-like material, and directly heating the sheet-like material to a temperature suitable for thermal development processing. ing.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least at positions corresponding to both ends in the width direction of the sheet material, a winding means which is bent in an arc shape by winding the sheet member is provided. The wrapping means is formed in a ring shape corresponding to, for example, a region of the sheet-like material on which the image information is not held, so that at least an inner peripheral surface of the region on which the image information is held is opened.

A heating means for heating the sheet-like material to a temperature suitable for the heat development process is provided at the axis of the curved sheet-like member. For example, when the ring-shaped winding means is provided as described above, the heating means is disposed so that the heating means is located at the center position of the winding means. The heating means is disposed along the width direction of the sheet material, and directly heats the sheet material by opening the inner peripheral surface of the sheet member.

Thus, the sheet-like material can be directly heated by the heat generated from the heating means, and it is not necessary to provide a large-capacity heating means for subjecting the sheet-like material to heat development processing. There is no need to provide a drum or hot plate. Therefore, heat treatment can be performed on the sheet material by effectively utilizing the heat generated from the heating means. Further, the internal configuration of the heating device can be simplified, and the cost required for configuring the heating device can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a heating drum or a heating plate, the temperature can be easily adjusted when performing the heat development process, and the heat treatment can be performed without generating uneven development.

The wrapping means of the present invention may be such that it comes into contact with the inner surfaces of both ends in the width direction of the sheet-like member curved in an arc shape. It may be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sheet member.

That is, the winding means may be a means in which a substantially ring-shaped member is opposed to both ends in the width direction of the sheet-like member, and the sheet-like member is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the member. The sheet-shaped member may be curved along the inner peripheral surface of the member.

As such a wrapping means, at least one of the wrapping means is disposed in a pair in the width direction of the sheet-like member when the pair of the wrapping means are arranged opposite to each other in the width direction of the sheet-like member. May be able to move along.

For example, one of the winding means arranged in a pair is fixed at a position corresponding to one end in the width direction of the sheet member, and the other is fixed in the width direction of the sheet member in accordance with the width dimension of the sheet member. Can be moved to This makes it possible to heat the plurality of sheet members having different widths.

As the wrapping means, a wrapping means common to each sheet material is provided at one end in the width direction of each of the plurality of sheet materials having different width dimensions.
A winding means may be provided at each position corresponding to the other end in the width direction of each sheet material having different width dimensions. That is, at least three winding units are arranged at positions corresponding to both ends in the width direction of a plurality of sheet materials having different width dimensions. Thereby, the trouble of moving the winding means in accordance with the width dimension of the sheet material to be heated can be omitted. At this time, it is preferable that the wrapping means is formed of a material through which heat generated from the heating means is transmitted (for example, heat-resistant glass).

When such a wrapping means is used, the sheet-like member wound around the wrapping means and curved in an arc shape is covered, and heat generated from the heating means is transferred to the sheet-like member. There may be provided a reflecting means for reflecting light toward the light source.

The reflection means is provided, for example, with an aluminum plate or the like, and is disposed along the outer peripheral surface of the sheet-like material wound around the winding means. Thus, the heat generated from the heating unit and transmitted through the sheet material and released is reused for heating the sheet material. Therefore, it is possible to improve the thermal efficiency when heating the sheet-like member by the heat generated from the heating means.

The wrapping means of the present invention may include a cylindrical member, and the sheet member may be curved along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member.

That is, by disposing the sheet-like member along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, the sheet-like member is curved in an arc shape. Thereby, the winding means has the function of the above-mentioned reflecting means, and the thermal efficiency when heating the sheet-like member can be improved.

As described above, since the sheet-shaped material is subjected to the heat treatment by bending the sheet-shaped material into an arc shape with the inner peripheral surface being opened by the winding means, the sheet-shaped material is directly heated by the heat generated from the heating means. Can be. Thus, for example, when performing a thermal development process on the sheet-like material, it is not necessary to provide a heating unit having a large capacity, and
There is no need to provide a heating drum or hot plate. Therefore, the internal configuration of the heat developing device can be simplified, and the cost required for configuring the heat developing device can be reduced.

Further, since there is no need to provide a heating drum or a hot plate, the temperature can be easily adjusted when performing the heat development process, and the heat development process can be performed without causing uneven development. As described above, the heat generated by the heating means can be effectively used, and the sheet-like material can be uniformly and quickly subjected to heat treatment such as heat development.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a heating adjusting means provided so as to cover an outer peripheral surface of the heating means and adjusting a heating state of the sheet material by the heating means. .

In the present invention, the heating adjusting means is provided between the heating means and the sheet material wound around the winding means. When the heat generated from the heating unit is not uniform, the heating adjustment unit adjusts the sheet-shaped member so as to receive the heat uniformly.

This makes it possible to uniformly heat the sheet material by the heat generated from the heating means. For example, even when performing thermal development, it is possible to uniformly heat the sheet material. There is no unevenness.

As such a heating adjusting means, a heat-insulating member having a substantially cylindrical shape, in which a slit having a predetermined width and opened along the width direction of the sheet-like member is used. be able to.

By adjusting the width of the slit of the heat shielding member to the distribution of the heat generated by the heating means, when the distribution of the heat generated from the heating means is not uniform, the heat generated when the sheet-like member is easily heated can be obtained. Can be made uniform. Further, the heating time for bringing the sheet material into a predetermined heating state can be adjusted by the width of the slit.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG.
1 shows a schematic internal configuration of a heat developing device 12 to which the present invention is applied. The thermal developing device 12 includes a face portion 26,
It comprises a thermal developing unit 28, an image receiving paper winding section 30, and an image receiving paper loading section 32, and is provided with a color measurement sensor 34, a temperature and humidity sensor 36 and the like as required.

The thermal developing device 12 has a face 26
An image exposure device (not shown) is provided adjacent to the side. In this image exposure apparatus, the photosensitive material 16 used as one of the sheet-shaped materials is subjected to image exposure, and is sent to the heat developing device 12. Incidentally, the heat developing device 12 may constitute an image forming apparatus integrally with the image exposure apparatus.

The photosensitive material 16 may be a long material wound in a roll shape, or may be cut to a predetermined length. That is, if it is a sheet,
It may be a roll material or a sheet material.
In the following, a description will be made assuming that a long roll photosensitive material is used as the photosensitive material 16.

The photosensitive material 16 is, for example, a silver salt photosensitive material having sensitivity in the visible region, a PS plate having sensitivity to UV (ultraviolet) light, B (blue) light and G (green) light, and near infrared light. For example, a thermal photosensitive material having high sensitivity can be used.

In an image exposure device (not shown), the photosensitive material 16 is exposed by scanning a light beam based on image data. At this time, in the image exposure device, the temperature and humidity in the heat developing device 12 detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 36 provided in the heat developing device 12 and the heat-developed photosensitive material 16 detected by the color measurement sensor 34 are used. The image data is corrected using the color of the recorded image and the like, and the photosensitive material 16 is scanned and exposed based on the corrected image data.

The image-exposed photosensitive material 16 is sent to the face 26 of the heat developing device 12. Face part 2
6 is provided with a branch guide (not shown) that is operated by a solenoid. The branch guide is configured to be switched between a horizontal state and a vertical state. When the branch guide is switched to the vertical state, the photosensitive material 16 is loosened between the transport rollers 42 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. be able to. Thereby, a speed difference between the processing speed of the heat developing device 12 and the processing speed of the image exposure device can be absorbed.
The driving of the transport roller 42 is controlled by a control unit 94 provided below the thermal developing device 12.

Below the face section 26, an image receiving paper loading section 32 is provided. The image receiving paper 40 wound around the winding shaft 44 is loaded in the image receiving paper loading section 32, and is transported by a transport roller 42 in a predetermined direction.

A thermal developing unit 28 is provided downstream of the photosensitive material 16 in the transport direction. Thermal development unit 28
Is provided with a water application tank 80 in which the photosensitive material 16 is filled with water as a solvent for image formation. Water is supplied to the water application tank 80 from a water tank 82 provided at a lower portion of the thermal developing device 12 by a pump (not shown). By coating the photosensitive material 16 with water, the adhesion when the image receiving paper 40 and the photosensitive material 16 are bonded to each other can be improved.

The thermal developing unit 28 is provided with a thermal developing section 46 for performing a thermal developing process. Thermal development section 46
A pair of wrap rings 48 around which the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are wound; a heater 50 for heating the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40; And a movable shutter 52 for adjusting a heating state of the heating member 40.
Here, the detailed configuration of the heat developing section 46 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the wrapping ring 48 is fixed to a fixing ring 48A fixed by a fixing means (not shown) in the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 (in FIG. 2A). (In the direction of arrow A or B shown in the figure).
That is, the photosensitive material 1 wound around the winding ring 48
6 and the movable ring 48B is moved in accordance with the width of the image receiving paper 40.

The image receiving material 40 has a width corresponding to the width of the photosensitive material 16. When the width of the photosensitive material 16 is changed by an image exposure device (not shown), the width of the photosensitive material 16 is adjusted. Image receiving material 40 having a different width. At this time, the fixed ring 18A and the movable ring 4
By using the wrap ring 48 constituted by 8B, the wrap ring 48 can be commonly used even if the width of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 40 is changed. When a sheet material cut to a predetermined length is used as the photosensitive material 16 instead of a roll photosensitive material, a cutter is disposed near the image receiving paper loading unit 32 and the image receiving paper 40 pulled out from the image receiving paper loading unit 32 is removed. What is necessary is just to cut | disconnect according to the length of the photosensitive material 16. FIG.

The wrapping ring 48 has a stopper 4
9A and a winding portion 49B are formed. The outer diameter of the stopper portion 49A is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the winding portion 49B.
The shift of the photosensitive material 16 wound around 9B and both ends of the image receiving paper 40 is stopped by the stopper portion 49A.
This prevents the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 from shifting in the width direction during transport.

At the center of the winding ring 48, a cylindrical heater 50 is provided. This heater 5
Numeral 0 is disposed along the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40
Can be heated to a temperature suitable for heat development. In the present embodiment, the heater 50
A far-infrared heater that emits far-infrared light is used.

On the outer periphery of the heater 50, a movable shutter 52 having an opening 52A formed along the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the heater 50. . For example, the movable shutter 52 has a gap having a predetermined width (hereinafter, referred to as an “opening 52A”) between one end and the other end of a belt-shaped lithographic plate using a material that blocks heat.
Are formed so as to form a circle.
By arranging the movable shutter 52 on the outer periphery of the heater 50, heat (far-infrared light) generated from the heater 50
Is released only from the opening 52A formed in the movable shutter 52, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are heated by being directly irradiated with the heat released from the opening 52A of the movable shutter 52. Has become.

The movable shutter 52 is shown in FIG.
2B, and is rotatably provided in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG.
The heating state of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 by the heat generated from the heater 50 is adjusted by the rotation speed of 2.
For example, by controlling the rotation speed and the like of the movable shutter 52, the heating time for the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 can be adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 1, downstream of the thermal developing section 46 in the transport direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40, a photosensitive material for peeling the image receiving paper 40 and the photosensitive material 16 bonded together. A peeling member 88 and an image receiving paper peeling member 90 for peeling the image receiving paper 40 from the winding ring 48 are provided.

The image receiving paper 4 is separated by the photosensitive material separating member 88.
The photosensitive material 16 that has been peeled off is wound around a winding shaft 92 provided in the photosensitive material winding section 30, and is disposed as waste material. The color measuring sensor 34 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the image receiving paper 40 on which the image has been formed after being peeled off from the wrapping ring 48 by the image receiving paper separating member 90. The color measurement sensor 34 measures the color of the image formed on the image receiving paper 40, and outputs the measurement data to the image exposure device for use as correction data. The image receiving paper 40 whose color has been measured by the color measurement sensor 34 is discharged to the outside of the thermal developing device 12.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

The photosensitive material 16 is subjected to scanning exposure by a light beam scanned based on image data by an image exposure device (not shown). Scanned photosensitive material 1
6 is sent to the thermal developing device 12. Thermal developing device 12
Then, the photosensitive material 16 is pulled in from the face portion 26 and dipped in water in a water application tank 80 of the thermal developing unit 28 to apply water. Thereafter, in the heat developing device 12, the photosensitive material 16
To the heat developing section 46.

On the other hand, in the heat developing device 12, the photosensitive material 16
The image receiving paper 40 is pulled out from the image receiving paper loading unit 32 in synchronization with the transport of the photosensitive material 16 and is sent to the thermal developing unit 46 of the thermal developing unit 28 in synchronization with the transport of the photosensitive material 16. As a result, in the heat developing section 46, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are bonded to each other and subjected to heat development processing.

The heat developing section 46 is provided with a wrap ring 48 composed of a fixed ring 48A and a movable ring 48B. Both ends of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 in the width direction are movable with the fixed ring 48A. It is wound around the ring 48B. The movement of the movable ring 48B is instructed by the control unit 94, for example, when it is detected that the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 have come into contact with the winding ring 48, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are moved by moving means (not shown). Move according to the width dimension of. This prevents the photosensitive material 16 wound around the winding ring 48 and the image receiving paper 40 from shifting in the width direction during conveyance.

The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are wound around the winding ring 48 only at both ends in the width direction. In this manner, the heater 50 is heated while the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are wound around the winding ring 48, and a heat development process is performed. At this time, the photosensitive material 16 is rotated by rotating the movable shutter 52 disposed near the outer periphery of the heater 50 at a predetermined speed.
And the heating time for the image receiving paper 40 is adjusted to perform the heat development processing. Since the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are subjected to the heat development process with only the both ends in the width direction wound around the winding ring 48, the heat generated from the heater 50 is formed on the movable shutter 52. The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 can be directly heated through the opening 52A.

In this manner, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40
Is heated to form an image on the image receiving paper 40. The photosensitive material 16 that has been subjected to the heat development processing is wound up by the photosensitive material take-up section 30 and disposed of as waste material. Further, the image receiving paper 40 on which the image is formed is discharged out of the thermal developing device 12, and is conveyed to an apparatus of the next process such as a printing apparatus.

In the heat developing section 46, only the widthwise ends of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are wound around the winding ring 48 to perform the heat development processing. The paper 40 can be directly heated. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a heater having a large capacity, the cost required for configuring the heat developing device 12 can be reduced, and the heat development processing can be efficiently performed by the heat generated from the heater 50. it can.

Further, since only the widthwise ends of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are wound around the winding ring 48 to perform the heat development process, the photosensitive material and the image receiving paper are brought into contact with a heating drum or a hot plate. There is no need to provide a mechanism for pressing or pressing, and the configuration of the heat developing device can be simplified.

Further, since there is no need to provide a heating drum or a heating plate, the temperature can be easily adjusted to a temperature suitable for the heat development process, and a stable heat development process can be realized without causing uneven development. be able to.

In the present embodiment, the movable shutter 52 provided near the outer periphery of the heater 50 is provided with an opening 52A extending in the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40. However, the shape of the opening 52A is not limited to this. For example, if the distribution of heat from the heater is not uniform,
A movable shutter that can adjust the distribution of heat generated from the heater to be uniform by forming the opening in a shape matching the distribution of heat or by providing a shield plate or the like is provided. You may.

That is, the heat generating portion 52 of the cylindrical heater 50 generates heat almost uniformly at the middle portion in the longitudinal direction, but the heat generation amount decreases at both ends in the longitudinal direction. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the length of the heat generating portion 50A of the heater 50 is set to the heating area,
At both ends of the heating region facing both ends in the width direction of A,
The heating temperature decreases. Therefore, when the longitudinal direction of the heating portion 50A of the heater 50 is arranged along the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are heated, the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 is increased. Is lower than the heating temperature at the center in the width direction.

In order to prevent a decrease in the heating temperature in a region facing both ends of the heating section 50A of the heater 50, the heating section 50A is longer than the width of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40. It is necessary to heat the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 in a region where the calorific value is uniform using the heating device 50, which results in an increase in size of the apparatus and a decrease in thermal efficiency.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, the opening 52A of the movable shutter 52 is
It changes according to the amount of heat emanating from. That is, the opening width at both ends of the heating unit 50A having a low heat amount is made larger than the opening width at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction in accordance with the change in the heating temperature.

As a result, the heating temperature at the intermediate portion of the heating section 50A and the heating temperature at both ends thereof can be made substantially the same, and the length of the heating section 50A of the heater 50 can be reduced by the width of the photosensitive material 16 and the width of the image receiving paper 40. The heating temperature of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 can be made substantially constant even if the length is substantially the same along the direction. Therefore, by uniformly heating the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 along the width direction, it is possible to reliably prevent development unevenness from occurring due to uneven heating temperature.
At 0, an image with high finishing quality can be formed.

In the present embodiment, the case where a far infrared heater is used as the heater has been described as an example.
The invention is not limited to this, and any material that can heat the photosensitive material and the image receiving paper may be used. However, as a photosensitive material, a silver salt photosensitive material having sensitivity in the visible region, UV (ultraviolet) light,
When using a PS plate sensitive to B (blue) light and G (green) light, a thermal photosensitive material sensitive to near-infrared light, etc.,
It is preferable to use a far infrared heater.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, an arc-shaped reflecting plate 54 is formed along the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive material 16 wound around the winding ring 48 and the image receiving paper 40. May be provided. According to this, the opening 5 of the movable shutter 52 is emitted from the heater 50.
The heat transmitted through the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 via 2A is reflected by the reflection plate 54 and is used again in the heat development process. Therefore, the heat development processing can be performed on the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 by effectively utilizing the heat generated from the heater 50.

In addition, the winding ring 48 of the present embodiment
Is constituted by a fixed ring 48A and a movable ring 48B. The movable ring 48B can be moved to correspond to the width of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40, but is not limited thereto. is not. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a winding ring 51A common to all of the photosensitive material and the image receiving paper having a plurality of widths is arranged at a position corresponding to one end in the width direction of the photosensitive material and the image receiving paper. The winding rings 51B and 51C may be arranged at positions corresponding to the other ends of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 in the width direction, respectively.

That is, the winding ring used in accordance with the width of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 may be selected to wind the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40. In this case, each of the winding rings 51A, 51B, and 51C is connected to the winding portion 4 like the winding ring 48 of the present embodiment.
It is preferable to form a winding ring having a uniform outer diameter without forming the stopper portion 9B and the stopper portion 49B, and it is preferable to use a material such as heat-resistant glass that transmits far infrared rays emitted from the heater 50. [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of the second embodiment described below is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components in the first embodiment. , The description of which is omitted.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a schematic configuration of the heat developing section 150 according to the second embodiment. This thermal developing section 150 can be used, for example, instead of the thermal developing section 46 of the first embodiment.

The heat developing section 150 has a cylindrical winding member 152. The inside of the winding member 152 is hollow.

The heater 50 is arranged at the axis of the winding member 150 so that the axial direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the winding member 152. The periphery of the heater 50 is surrounded by a movable shutter 52, and heat of the heater 50 is radiated from an opening 52 </ b> A of the operation shutter 52.

On the other hand, on the outer peripheral portion of the winding member 152,
A slit-shaped insertion port 154 and a discharge port 156 along the axial direction are adjacent to each other, and are formed such that their longitudinal directions are parallel to each other. The lengths of the insertion port 154 and the discharge port 156 are matched with the widths of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 to be processed in the heat developing section 150. And the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 inserted into the wrapping member 152 can be inserted into the discharge port 156.
Can be withdrawn from.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the heat developing section 1
In 50, an insertion guide 158 is provided to face the insertion port 154 of the winding member 152, and a discharge guide 160 is provided to face the discharge port 156. The insertion guide 158 and the discharge guide 160 have a substantially arc-shaped cross-section along the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 16, and their leading ends are directed to the insertion port 154 and the discharge port 156, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B), stopper portions 162 are formed in the winding member 152 at both ends along the axial direction. Photosensitive material 16 and image receiving paper 40
To prevent displacement along the width direction.

The photosensitive material 16 is sent to the heat developing section 150
When the receiving paper 40 is overlapped, the leading end thereof is inserted by the insertion guide 158 into the insertion opening 15 of the winding member 152.
8 and is inserted into the wrapping member 152 from the insertion opening 158. The tip is the insertion port 1 of the wrapping member 152
The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 inserted into the paper 58 are further fed into the wrapping member 152, so that the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are stacked along the inner peripheral surface of the wrapping member 152. It moves toward the outlet 156 while bending.

Thus, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40
Is wound around the inner peripheral surface of the winding member 152 in a state of being curved in an arc shape. At this time, photosensitive material 1
Due to the stiffness of the image receiving paper 6 and the image receiving paper 40, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are in a state of being in close contact with each other and further in a state of being in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the wrapping member 152.

Further, in the heat developing section 150, when the heat development processing in the wrapping member 152 is completed, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are pulled out from the wrapping member 152. At this time, for example, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are further fed into the winding member 152 from the insertion port 154 side. Accordingly, the photosensitive material 16 in the wrapping member 152 and the leading end of the image receiving paper 40 protrude from the discharge port 156 and are guided in the discharge direction by the discharge guide 160, and subsequently, the photosensitive material 16 in the wrapping member 152 and Image receiving paper 40
Is discharged from the discharge port 156, and the image receiving paper 40 is peeled off from the photosensitive material 16 by a peeling means (not shown) and is discharged.

In the heat developing section 150 thus formed, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are wound around the inside of the winding member 152 by the heater 50 while the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are wound. Is subjected to a heat development treatment.

At this time, since the heater 50 is housed in the cylindrical winding member 152, the temperature can be prevented from being changed by the influence of the outside air, and the photosensitive material 1 can be prevented.
6 and the image receiving paper 40 can be uniformly heated. Further, by forming the wrapping member 152 into a cylindrical shape, it also has the effect of a reflecting plate, and the heater 50 for heating the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40.
The thermal efficiency can be improved. The air inside the winding member 152 is discharged or the winding member 152 is discharged.
When it is necessary to ventilate the inside, ventilation holes may be provided at both ends in the axial direction, or ventilation means may be provided.

As described above, in the heat developing section 150, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are efficiently heated and developed by a simple configuration using the winding member 152 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape as the winding means. be able to.

In the second embodiment, a winding member 152 having a substantially cylindrical shape is used as the winding means, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are formed along the inner peripheral surface of the winding member 152. By arranging, the winding state was curved in an arc shape, but as the winding means,
Any material may be used as long as it contacts at least both ends of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 in the width direction and bends in an arc shape.

As such a wrapping means, for example, a wrapping ring 170 shown in FIG. 7 can be used. The wrap ring 170 is formed by a stopper portion 172 and a wrap portion 174, and is disposed so as to face both ends of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 in the width direction.

The winding ring 170
A cut 176 is formed for inserting the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 into the inside 4, and a cut 178 is formed for discharging from the inside of the winding portion 174. In addition, the inner diameter of the stopper 172 is smaller than the inner diameter of the wrapping portion 174, whereby the wrapping portion 174 is formed.
When the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are arranged in the inside, the movement in the width direction is restricted.

When the leading ends of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are inserted through the cuts 176, the wrapping ring 170 extends along the inner peripheral surface of the wrapping portion 174.
6 and the image receiving paper 40 are guided. Thereby, the photosensitive material 1
6 and the image receiving paper 40, the both ends in the width direction
4 is curved in an arc shape.

The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are curved at both ends in the width direction, so that the middle portion in the width direction is also curved, and become substantially cylindrical between the winding rings 170. Accordingly, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 can be uniformly heated by the heater 50 disposed at the axis of the winding ring 170.

When such a winding ring 170 is used, one is fixed and the other is fixed in the axial direction (the direction of the arrow A and the direction of the arrow B) according to the width of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40. , Heat development processing of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 of a plurality of sizes can be performed.

A plurality of wrapping rings (not shown) constituted by only the wrapping portion 174 except for the stopper portion 172 are arranged, and the wrapping ring is moved so that a plurality of types of photosensitive materials 16 having different width dimensions and an image receiving device are provided. Processing of the paper 40 becomes possible. Further, the reflection plate 54 may be arranged so as to cover the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 which are curved in a substantially arc shape between the winding rings 170.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the long photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40 are used as the sheet material, but the invention is not limited thereto. May be a cut sheet cut to a predetermined length. Further, the heating device of the present invention is not limited to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving paper 40, and may be applied to a heating device for heating other photosensitive materials. It can be used for a heating device for heating a material in a shape.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sheet-shaped photosensitive material is wound around the winding means arranged at positions corresponding to both ends in the width direction of the sheet-shaped photosensitive material, and directly heated by the heating means. In this case, the heat development can be effectively performed by effectively using the heat generated from the heating means, and the heat development can be performed on the sheet-shaped photosensitive material.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a heat developing device.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are configuration diagrams showing a detailed configuration of a heat development unit according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the heat development unit, and FIG. 2B-2B in 2 (A)
FIG.

FIG. 3 (A) is a diagram schematically showing a heating section of a heater and a heating temperature of the heating section of the heater, and FIG. 3 (B) is a movable shutter having an opening formed therein according to the heating temperature of the heater; It is a diagram which shows the outline of the heating temperature by the accommodated heater.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are configuration diagrams illustrating a detailed configuration of a heat development unit according to another embodiment, FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a main part of the heat development unit, and FIG. 4B in 4 (A)
4B illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat development unit as another embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are configuration diagrams showing a detailed configuration of a heat development unit according to a second embodiment, FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the heat development unit, and FIG. 6B-6B in 6 (A)
FIG.

FIG. 7 is a main part perspective view showing another example of the heat developing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an internal configuration diagram showing a conventional heat developing device provided with a heating drum.

FIG. 9 is an internal configuration diagram showing a conventional thermal developing device provided with a plurality of hot plates.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image exposure apparatus 12 Thermal developing apparatus (heating apparatus) 14 Image forming apparatus 16 Photosensitive material (sheet-shaped material) 28 Thermal developing unit (heating apparatus) 46 Thermal developing section (heating apparatus) 48 Wrapping ring (wrapping means) 50 Heater (heating means) 52 Movable shutter (heating adjusting means) 52A Opening (heating adjusting means) 54 Reflector (reflecting means) 150 Thermal developing section (heating device) 152 Wrapping member (wrapping means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A heating device for forming an image by heating a sheet material having a predetermined width that carries image information, wherein the sheet material is arranged in pairs at least at positions corresponding to both widthwise ends of the sheet material. A wrapping means for curving in an arc shape with the inner peripheral surface being opened by contacting the material so that the material is wrapped; Heating means disposed along the width direction of the sheet-shaped material and directly heating the sheet-shaped material to a temperature suitable for thermal development processing. 2. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping means contacts inner surfaces of both ends in the width direction of the sheet-like member curved in an arc shape. 3. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the winding means contacts an outer peripheral surface of the sheet-like member curved in an arc shape. 4. When the wrapping means is arranged in pairs opposite to both ends in the width direction of the sheet-like member,
The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the winding means is movable along a width direction of the sheet-shaped member. 5. A reflecting means for covering the periphery of the sheet-shaped member wound around the winding means and curved in an arc shape, and reflecting heat generated from the heating means toward the sheet-shaped member. The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 6. The wrapping means comprises a cylindrical member,
The heating device according to claim 3, wherein the sheet-shaped member is curved along an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating adjusting unit disposed so as to cover an outer peripheral surface of the heating unit, and adjusting a heating state of the sheet-shaped material by the heating unit. The heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The heat adjusting means includes a substantially cylindrical heat shielding member, wherein the heat shielding member is formed with a slit having a predetermined width and opened along the width direction of the sheet-shaped member. The heating device according to claim 7, wherein